Why did you come? I never saw you here Till now within these walls. SAMEAS. That’s just the reason You see me here to-day. You may have thought It was through fear of you. I fear you not! Not even now, when many learnt to fear you Who till this time--I mean up till the death Of Aristobulus--had no fear of you; And now at offered opportunity To give you proof I have a grateful heart, I grasp the chance, and warn you solemnly Against a deed that the Lord God abhors. This woman’s bones unhallowed are accursed, She has rejected rescue heathen-wise; No less the act than had she killed herself. And then---- HEROD. Some other time! (_To_ ZERUBABEL.) From Galilee! Zerubabel as well who once----Be welcome! Yourself’s to blame I’ve seen you not till now. ZER. ’Tis a high honour, King, you know me still. (_Pointing to his mouth._) But then of course these teeth, these mighty twins That make me a blood-cousin to the boar---- HEROD. The look of my own face will I forget Sooner than his who’s served me trustily. When I was brigand-hunting in your land, My sharpest sleuth-hound you! Why come you now? ZER. (_pointing to his son_). Small cause enough. This Philo here’s my son. Soldiers you need, and I--well none need I. This one’s a Roman. By some oversight A Hebrew daughter gave him to the world.[2] HEROD. From Galilee comes to me naught but good. I’ll have you summoned later. [ZERUBABEL _retires with his son_. TITUS (_advancing_). A cheat’s fraud I have discovered forces---- HEROD. Out with it! TITUS. The dumb speak! HEROD. Riddle not! TITUS. Your halberdier Who, companied with one of my centurions, Last night was standing guard at your bed-chamber---- HEROD (_aside_). The man whom Alexandra, my wife’s mother, Enlisted in my service---- TITUS. He’s not dumb, Though not a soul but seems to think so of him. In dreaming he has found his voice and cursed. HEROD. In dreaming! TITUS. Yes, he fell asleep on guard, And my centurion had no mind to wake him, Thinking his duty’s scope made no exaction, Because he is not drafted with his cohort. But his sharp eye was on him, if he fell To catch him that your rest be not disturbed, Since it was early and you lay asleep. While he does this the dumb one sudden starts A-murmuring, and calls aloud your name, And couples it with a most fearsome curse. HEROD. And this centurion suffers no delusion? TITUS.